Are The People Of Kalaam Really Those Who Possess Intellect? By Ibn Taymiyyah

“The talk concerning these individuals (the people of kalaam) and the corruption of their views has been stated in many places. The point here is that what led them to that was their perception that intellectual reasoning nullifies what the Messenger of Allaah (saw) informed us f or what he intended by his speech.

There is much talk concerning the refutation of this concept in many places, where it has been clarified that the intellect does not negate the textual proofs and that whatever does negate it, then that is corrupt.

After this, it has been clarified that the intellect confirms what the Messenger of Allaah (saw) brought, as well as serves as a witness and verifier of it. It should not be said that it merely doesn’t go against it only. Rather, it confirms and corroborates it. So they are the ones who would say that it (the intellect) denies it (revealed texts).

It has become clear, first, that it neither denies nor nullifies it, and second, that (on the other hand) it confirms and corroborates it.

As for these individuals, it has become clear that their speech by which they oppose the messenger (saw) is false and presents no such contradiction. But this is not just it. Rather, it also contradicts the pure uncorrupted intellect. So they would claim that the intellect (‘aql) contradicts the text (naql). Yet, the following four things have become clear:

1) The intellect does not contradict it.

2) Then it was clarified that the intellect (instead) confirms it.

3) It has become clear that their intellectual reasoning, which they used to oppose the texts, is false.

4) And it has been clarified that the pure intellect contradicts that (what the people of kalaam say).

Furthermore, it is not sufficient that the intellect nullifies that which they opposed the Messenger with. Rather, it has been clarified that what they used as proof for affirming the Creator can also be used to negate Him. So they establish evidences that necessitate te negation of the Creator, even though they think that they are affirming te Creator by it.

The point here is that theur speech with which they claim to be affirming the Creator, only directs towards the negation and denial of the Creator. So it is not sufficient that it is false and doesn’t direct to the truth. Rather, it even directs to falsehood, which they and everyone else with intellect knows is false.”

[Majmoo’ Al-Fataawaa, of Ibn Taymiyyah, 16/442-443]

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